Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-12-29


Stepping into the council cham.
Der the attention Of ono is at once
arrested by the appearance of a
full house. After observing for q
while the run of business, he will
discover that a contest is under ex-
animation, and that the case is be-
tween Mr.. Johnson Fields, men,
Der elect of the Downing party,
and Andrew Lasley, a colored gen.
tleman and defeated candidate for
legislative honors, of the National.
Occupying the central point Of the
picture we discover attorn eys,
Henry Coval, r. w. Walker and
Ridge Paschal on part of the de-
fense, and E. 9. Boudinot, Jr.,
John Springston and John Grass,
on part of the prosecution. The
reading of the evidence in the case
is going on. This being rather
tedious we will step into the senate
chamber. Here we discover more
spectators than members, a full
representation consisting of eigh-
teen members, so that one men,
Der is equal to a little more than
two councillors in legislative pow
er. Looking over those seated at
the desks, we discover Hon. L. b.
Bell, the wit Of the senate, whose
contest as well as that of Hous-
ton Benge has been withdrawn.
The appearance here is that OF
preparation for business. The
scene reminds one Of an old fash
ioned Cherokee ball play, when
the players were examining clos e.
ly the strength of their opponents
before the tug came. Seeing this
is the case, whether fanciful or not,
let's walk up TO the executive de-
partment. Entering at the door
of the east room, we find a consid-
erable number of men setting
around the stove, all busily chat
ting and smoking pipes and cigars.
The topics of conversation are va
rious, ranging from the grave and
serious to the humorous and pleas
ant. Beyond the group seated
around the stove, are three desks
in line with each other, at which
are seated three secretaries. One
only seems to be busy. He is fill
ing out warrants to pay the men,
bers of the national council on
what is aptly termed the "No one
BILL" and is the only one that has
been passed this council. 1t be-
ing as it were the beginning of a
term, there is scarcely any general
business. More especially is this
so, because the new chief is but
just initiated into the duties of his
office.
Passing out of this room the
middle or library room is reached.
Fenced off by a picket from public
ingress are between fifteen hun
dred and two thousand volumes
consisting of congressional pro-
ceedings, proceedings of the legis-
latures Of the different states and
reports without number. To any
but the general politician and those
of legal occupation the whole thing
is a desert without an oasis or a
song bird.
The next is called the chiefs
room. Here, as a natural conse.
quehce we look for him who is at
the head OF the government. He
is not hard to find among the
crowd who are standing about in
groups or occupying seats in COM
Portable distance from the stove.
He is distinguished by his portly
size, healthy appearance and that
distingue that should point out the
ruler of people.
By the same token. one can easi-
ly discover the assistant principal
chief, Hon. Samuel Smith. He is
every inch an Indian, naturally
highly gifted, OF pleasant and
agreeable manners, and the great
est orator among his people. He
is ttail and erect, his eyes large, !
black and intelligent, his mouth !
large and nose Roman. He is Of !
that age when ambition is not for
self, but for the good OF those
whose welfare he is called to pro.
mote and safely to protect.
AN APPELLATE judge at Kansas
ritv has 6ecidad that tvta ,vritfno,